News and previews about Silent Hill f are now at an all-time high, with gaming outlets having tried the first five hours of the game early. However, many also noticed that Silent Hill f’s new approach to combat has taken a major shift, and it’s now being branded as a “Soulslike.” But what does that even mean?
Apparently, early previews of Silent Hill f’s gameplay have pointed out the use of a dodge roll mechanic and a stamina meter, leaving players to wonder if it’s borrowing familiar elements from notable Soulslike games such as Wuchang: Fallen Feathers or Lies of P. In previous Silent Hill entries, dodging and stamina weren’t part of the core mechanics. Instead, players would typically run away from threats like any regular person would.
Now, fans are confused — is it a Soulslike or not? We already covered the new gameplay details in depth in our previous piece, but f borrowing soulslike mechanics has left fans bewildered.
Across the internet, especially on X and Reddit, fans are debating whether Silent Hill f qualifies as a Soulslike. To be fair, it seems that most of the fanbase agrees it’s not fully going in that direction. Instead, it appears to be taking a unique spin on the survival horror formula, using stamina as a primary resource rather than bullets.
Of course, others enjoy playing devil’s advocate. To them, Silent Hill f feels like a Soulslike, and some have even jokingly recommended it to Soulslike content creators like Iron Pineapple. Others have humorously suggested that Himiko could "link the fire" during the game’s ending, referencing Dark Souls. Part of the reason this is gaining traction is because of a certain boss in Silent Hill f who reportedly takes about an hour to beat, requiring precise dodging and careful stamina management.
Regardless, this marks a major shift in the series’ gameplay. There’s now more emphasis on melee combat than ever before. In past entries, guns and chainsaws were staples in every Silent Hill visit, but in Silent Hill f, there are no firearms. Himiko must confront every nightmarish threat with a pipe, a baton, a katana, or whatever else she can find to fight back.
While Silent Hill f does incorporate familiar Soulslike mechanics, that alone doesn’t justify labeling it a Soulslike. At its core, it remains a survival horror game. The dodging and stamina management are part of the series’ evolution, especially given the complete absence of firearms.
In the end, Silent Hill fans likely won’t mind the genre debate. They’re already excited to discover what horrors await in Himiko’s story set in 1960s Japan. Silent Hill f releases this September 25, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC.
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